October 26, 2007

Metaphysically speaking, ego is formed by the union of Purush (Spirit) and Prakriti (Matter). Physically speaking, ego is formed at birth.

Ego is a natural phenomenon. Everyone has ego. It is natural for consciousness to become identified with the body (and its relations) at birth. As the living self (embodied soul) passes from infancy, to childhood, to young adulthood, adulthood, middle age, and old age, our personality (expression of ego) undergoes many changes. All of this is part of the drama of existence, the Play or Sport of Life.

Rising above our ego is a challenge but not a problem. Our life becomes problematic only when we see challenges as hassles. This false perception (seeing challenges as hassles) is itself an expression of ego, and hence, is a challenge in itself. The false perception is born out of ignorance and is removed with wisdom.

â€˜Rising above our egoâ€™ means â€˜changing for the better.â€™ It is better for everyone, including ourselves, when we are unselfish and giving. People who are â€˜takers,â€™ who are self-involved and selfish, are miserable and miserly. If we are stingy with our good energy we are bound to be unhappy.

We are the Spirit-self, the Energy-self, so we should be energetic because thatâ€™s our natural way to be. In other words, it is our true nature to be unselfish, and holding on to our small-self ego is unnatural.

Soul is positive. To be ourselves we have to be positive. We are the Shining Light! There may be darkness all around, but where there is light there is light only. When all of us pull together, that Light removes the surrounding darkness. When we are united with the Supreme Soul, we see that Light everywhere.

October 21, 2007

The Supreme â€˜Iâ€™ principle; Mahatattva; Universal Mindâ€”these are one and the same, expressed differently.

The Supreme â€˜Iâ€™ principle is next to the ‘Supreme-I’. The â€˜Supreme-Iâ€™ in this context is Purush, the Spirit Self. The Universal Mind is the Mind of the Spirit Self. Mahatattva is the first expression of the union of Purush and Prakriti.

From the perspective of the Self (Purush), the â€˜Supreme-Iâ€™ is Mahapurush, the Supreme Self. The Self and the Supreme Self, in this context, are the Sprit Self and the Supreme Spirit. The â€˜spiritâ€™ is the Life Force inherent in Atman and Paramatman.

In the context of Purush and Mahapurush, Atman and Paramatman are the Self and the Supreme Self. The union of the Self and the Supreme Self can only be manifested by the Self. Paramatman (the Supreme Self) can only be realized by the Self as Purush, the Spirit Self.

The living self (Jivatman), the Spirit Self embodied in ego, intellect, mind, senses, and (optionally) the gross physical body, MUST realize its essence (Spirit Self) to be free from the false identification with the â€˜mindâ€™-body apparatus. (In this context, the â€˜mindâ€™ refers to the fourfold inner organ, Antahkaranachautushtaya.)

Since the body is an extension of the mind, the real work is in the realm of the mind. This â€˜mindâ€™ is the individualized mind and not the Universal Mind. The individualized mind is the Universal Mind circumscribed by ego. It is the result of the devolution of the living self during the process of the evolution of Prakriti (resulting from the union of Purush and Prakriti). The union of Purush and Prakriti is the basis of Ignorance (Avidya). Since the individualized mind is the product of Ignorance, the individualized mind is inherently ignorant.

The individualized mind is dissolved with the Wisdom of Consciousness. The true test of the presence of Wisdom is the absence of ego (false identification and the false pride associated with it). In other words, when wisdom is truly applied ego is removed and ignorance of our True Nature is eradicated. When this happens, the living self (Jivatman) is established in the Universal Mind.

Now begins the deeper spiritual work. The living self is now embodied in the Cosmic Ego since it is identified with the Universal Mind. The process of dissolving this subtle ego continues until the living self fully realizes its True Nature as the Spirit Self, Purush. Ultimately, all Ignorance is completely dissolved as Purush is united with Mahapurush, and the union of Atman and Paramatman is subsequently experienced as the state of Liberation (Moksha). In This, all that remains is the â€˜Supreme-I.â€™